Prep boys' basketball: Mountain View beats first-place Olympus

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Holladay •Â The confidence of the Mountain View bench began to show as the minutes ticked down. Players bursted from their seats when baskets were made and rebounds were corralled.

The Bruins'Â crowd followed, making itself heard in a hostile gym.

It was a simple scene, one not uncommon late in big basketball games. But it meant something for the Bruins, who hadn't been in many important games in recent seasons, especially not this late in the season. Â

It meant the Bruins, who went on the road Tuesday and beat region-leading Olympus 67-55, finally are starting to make believers.

"At the beginning our fans weren't standing up,"Â said Ryan Warner, who led the Bruins with 26 points. "They were at the end and it gave us the confidence, enthusiasm and energy we needed to finish out the game."

Mountain View already had scored a season-defining win over Orem earlier in the season. But the Bruins knew a win over the Titans, who had not lost in Region 7 play and are among the Class 4A favorites, would leave no doubt about whether Mountain View'sÂ turnaround is for real.

After 32 minutes in which the Bruins flat-out were better than the Titans, it was clear Â the Bruins can play with anybody. The proof, if it was needed, hung on the scoreboard.

And it lingered in the primal yells that came from the Bruins'Â locker room after the game.

"It should open eyes,"Â said Bruins coach Nate Carling. "I told the guys, 'Let's send a message for the state tournament that no one wants to play Mountain View.'Â I think coming on the road, with a big crowd, a boisterous crowd, to play that well, it does send a message."

Olympus stars Alec Monson and Jake Lindsey proved tough for the Bruins to crack. Monson had 30, while Lindsey added 17, showing why they're one of the top duos in the state.

But no one else scored for the Titans until there were just five minutes left in the game. And that was not enough to overcome a Bruins team motivated by a chance to prove itself on a big stage.

"Beating an undefeated team in 4A gives us a lot of confidence,"Â Warner said. "It's right before the state tournament. Hopefully that will give us a little push." 

Mountain View 67, Olympus 55

R Ryan Warner scores 26, and Spencer Conrad adds 22 for the Bruins.

• The loss wrecks Olympus'Â chance at an undefeated region record.

• Alec Monson scores a game-high 30 for the Titans, including five 3s.

• See scores in Scoreboard. > D5

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